Wednesday, November 19, 2003
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Wednesday, November 19, 2003 |
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Chasing the checkered flag Fayetteville teen finds success in racing
By MONROE
ROARK Jonathan Chandler is on the fast track, and it’s only going to get faster. The Bandolero champion at Senoia Speedway for 2003, the 13-year-old Fayetteville resident has set his sights on the Pro Challenge circuit for next year. In his second full season in Bandolero racing, he led all Georgia racers and was third in the United States in points in his second full season in the Bandolero division. He ran about 35 races this year, mostly at Senoia and in Thursday Thunder at Atlanta Motor Speedway, with a win in Mobile, Ala., as well as a second-place finish in a national event in Orlando. Not bad for a guy who just started racing two years ago, after he saw some racing when he was 11 and thought it might be fun. Right now, the Flat Rock Middle School eighth-grader is already planning for 2004, have just acquired a new car for the move to Pro Challenge racing. Most of his Bandolero races have been against drivers in the 12-16 age range, but some events have attracted all ages, he said. The Pro Challenge season starts in the spring, but there will be plenty of practice time in Senoia before that, along with preparations to be made to the car. Chandler does not currently have a sponsor, but he is looking for one. His big sponsors so far have been his parents, David and Dawn Chandler. Dad is also his crew chief, but Mom doesn’t usually watch the actual races. “She just goes somewhere where she can’t see,” Jonathan said. The biggest expense by far in this type of racing is the initial purchase of the car, Dawn Chandler said. After that it’s mostly basic tuneups, with a couple of notable exceptions: the tires frequently need replacing, and the engine is usually good for one season. So it’s not just an education for the actual driver. “We have learned a lot about cars since he started,” said Dawn Chandler. “And we’ve met a lot of super parents.” The most recent equipment upgrade has been Jonathan’s new helmet, which needed special modifications including an airvent system. His new car will be much hotter than his old one, his mother said. For more about Jonathan Chandler’s racing career, visit www.chasingthecheckered.com.
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